points on pindam 2

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Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

Continuing the discussion on points on how piNdam came and its significance,

now, we will see what the two sages nara - naaraayaNa said in reply to sage

naaradha. Naaradha asked how piNdam came into existence. For that question reply

is offered.

 

nara naaraayaNou [uvaacha - said - is understood]

 

imaan hi DharaNeem poorvam nashtaam saagara mEkhalaam |

gOvindha ujjahaaraasu vaaraahan roopam aasritha: ||11

 

meaning: Nara and NaaraayaNa said, 'The Earth, in days of yore, with her belt of

seas, disappeared from the view. gOvindha assuming the form of a gigantic boar,

raised her up (with his mighty tusk). [MGV - is it part varaaha avathaaram

story?]

 

Point: see here naaradha calls gOvindha appeared as varaaha. We remember in

srimadh bhagavatham dhasama skandham dhEvendhra offered this title "gOvindha" to

krishNa after he was subdued in that gOvardhana giri lifting. Also that is the

only pattabhishEkam krishNa had in that avathaaram. But here, it is the title

conferred during 'varaaha' avathaaram.

 

Another point on this writeup / article is that some of these points are already

given by Smt. Jayasree saranathan in her article on 'thilam eLLU part 12' [the

dharbham series]. Since I located the slOkams, and some additional points are

there, I am sharing with you all these.

 

sthaapayithvaa thu DharaNeen svE sthaanE purushOththama: |

jala kardama lipthaangO lOka kaaryaartham udhyatha: || 12

 

meaning: Having replaced the Earth in her former position, that foremost of

Purusha, his body smeared with water and mud, set himself to do what was

necessary for the world and its denizens.

 

praapthE cha aahnika kaalE sa madhyandhina gathE ravou |

dhansthraa vilagnaan mruth piNdaan vidhooya sahasaa prabhu: ||

sthaapayaamaasa vai pruthvyaan kusaanaastheerya naaradha ||| 13

 

meaning: O Naaradha, when the sun reached the meridian, and the hour, therefore,

came for saying the morning prayers, the puissant Lord, suddenly shaking off 3

balls of mud from his tusk, placed them upon the Earth, having previously spread

thereon certain blades of grass.

 

Point: here the important point is, the lord, even though supreme, observes or

says his midday prayers - madhya aahnikam.

This also indicates that the time for offering piNdam is after maadhyaahnikam -

just around noon - not by 8-30am so that you finish your sraardha kaarayam by

8-30, 8-45am and rush to office by 9 am.

 

sa thEshu aathmaanam udhdhisya pithryan chakrE yathaa vidhi |

sankalpayithvaa threen piNdaan svEnaiva vidhinaa prabhu: || 14

meaning: The puissant Vishnu dedicated those balls of mud unto his own self,

according to the rites laid down in the eternal ordinance.

 

aathmagaathrOsma sambhoothai: snEha garbhai: thilai: api |

prOkshya apavargan dhEvEsa: praanmukha: kruthavaan svayam || 15

 

meaning: Regarding the 3 balls of mud that the puissant Lord had shaken off from

his tusks as PiNdas, he then, with sesame seeds of oily kernel that arose from

the heat of his own body, himself performed the rite of dedication, sitting with

face turned towards the East.

 

Point: while offering piNdam one should face east is an important aspect to pick

up. Further how thilam - eLLu - sesame seeds - came into is also said - it came

from the body heat of the lord - that is why it is pavithram.

 

In chapter 66 of same anusaasana parvam there is another sentence, which reads -

bhishma says "Sesame seeds sprang from the limbs of the great Rishi Kasyapa".

Apparently this may appear contradictory and as such this has to be taken with a

pinch of salt.

 

Further on gifting of "thilam" - eLLu dhaanam - what it gives or how treated is

elaborated by bhishma in anusaasana parvam, in chapter 68 Bhishma says as a

conversation took place between a brahmaNa and yama -

 

"Yama said, 'Do thou hear, O regenerate Rishi, [addressed to that brahmaNa] the

excellent ordinances regarding gifts. The gift of sesame seeds is a very

superior one. It produces everlasting merit. O foremost of regenerate ones, one

should make gifts of as much sesame as one can. By making gifts of sesame every

day, one is sure to attain the fruition of one's every wish. The gift of sesame

at Sraadhdhaas is applauded. Verily the gift of sesame is a very superior one.

Do thou make gifts of sesame unto the Brahmanas according to the rites ordained

in the scriptures. One should on the day of the full moon of the month of

Vaisakha, make gilts of sesame unto the Brahmanas. They should also be made to

eat and to touch sesame on every occasion that one can afford. They that are

desirous of achieving what is beneficial to them should, with their whole souls,

do this in their houses".

 

Many a times we are advised by astrologers "thila dhaanam" for sani graha

preethi.

 

But even otherwise also this can be done is what is the point from this

paragraph above. We will continue on some more points in next post.

 

Dhasan

Vasudevan M.G.

 

 

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